Photo: Asus

The 13-inch laptop is a modern relic of times gone by, with seemingly more and more people buying portable computers with larger screens for work, and light users leaning towards mini-laptops and netbooks. For my money, though, a 13-inch laptop computer remains the perfect size for a legitimately portable computer.

Why the love?

One wonders why the glowing endorsement, of course. The first reason is that a 13-inch laptop computer is not so small that it’s an unpleasant, cramped experience – like the experience with netbooks – and not so big that it can’t fit into most bags, which 15-, 17- and especially 19-inch laptops cannot do. In this respect, it retains the moniker of a portable computer that can be used atop your lap. Genius.

What to look for in 13-inch laptops

Outside of the very bleeding edge of mobile technology, laptops are often capable of comparable (and often superior) performance to their larger counterparts. One rarely comes across such performance because manufacturers deliberately tier their products so as to maximise profit but if you search carefully, you can find a 13-inch laptop computer with all the capability of its larger counterparts.

Some notable laptops

Photo: Apple

The 13-inch Macbook (and it’s slightly beefier Macbook Pro) are Apple’s answer to the ‘perfect-sized’ laptop market. Both computers are engineered to Apple’s supreme aesthetic sensibilities as well as its rather painful premium.

HP’s range of 13-inch computers – there are many of them, so range is used in the broad definition of the term here – are all very functional computers. HP built its reputation by making good computers at smart price points and their Pavilion DV3 range of 13-inch laptops is no different.

In short, the 13-inch laptop computer is great because it does everything you could want from a laptop while also retaining the portability that made laptops as popular (and likely to be more popular in the near future) as desktop computers.

Photo: Ed Yourdon / Flickr

The student market is easily one of the most important for computer manufacturers, because they realise that the student will soon be financially autonomous and could well be one of their lifelong customers.

Even though they know this about students, they seem to spend very little time thinking about their current situation and needs. We take a look at what most students want out of computers.

Size matters

Having been to college, with that rucksack bursting at the seams with books, I wish I had known then what I know now – a large laptop is a bad idea. A small laptop, ideally a 13-inch laptop, is the sweet spot. They’re large enough that you can do serious work with them, but sized to slip comfortably into your rucksack to go.

Aesthetics count, too

A student’s image is critical. This is not to say they fuss too much (though we know some people do), but every little detail is important. Though we’ve concluded small laptops are a bare minimum for practically purposes, good looking laptops are a necessity for image prospects. By now most everyone knows you can’t go wrong with the 13-inch laptops Apple makes, for both the Macbook and Macbook Pro are great, but other manufacturers make stunning product, too.

Functionality matters

Being at college, it’s likely students who purchase laptops need them for serious work. Whether for design or programming, a range of good looking small laptops doesn’t automatically cut it. They need to be able to push pixels, run demanding applications and do a pretty decent job at playing games, too.

Think of the needs

Whenever computer manufacturers release laptops intended for students, they often turn out to be unmitigated disasters. The secret code is there is no secret code. Size them well, make them pretty and make them capable of some serious heavy lifting, too.

If you can wrap all these considerations into a solid marketing campaign, students may not be so indifferent to all but a choice few laptops.

Photo: Dell

When buying a laptop on a budget without necessarily wanting to buy a weak budget laptop, you have to put a lot of thought into how to tackle the problem. Below are some strategies for buying cheap laptops online that fall into your price range.

Compare brands and makers

The very first thing you want to do when purchasing laptops on a budget is to filter according to makers. Are you married to any one specific brand? If yes, then you’re limited to the price range of laptops made by that brand. If not, you can be flexible by selecting alternate options. For example, if you will have nothing less than a Mac, expect to pay nothing less than £700 for the current range. However, if you’re non-fussed about who makes it – as long as it’s a reputable manufacturer – you’ll find a treasure trove of options online that are cheaper than that Dell or Macbook you were eyeing.

Consider second-hand

Photo: Packard Bell

If that fresh smell of a brand new gadget doesn’t get you buzzing, then perhaps you should consider second-hand options. Online classifieds like the Craigslists and Gumtrees of the world are a fantastic place to sell and buy cheap laptops online. This way, you often get something you would have otherwise bought in the store for 20-50 per cent off the sticker price. That kind of saving makes nigh-on any laptop, even those super-beastly ones you thought you could never afford, affordable.

Cheap laptops filtered for you

It’s cool if second hand isn’t your thing – for laptops, the risk is simply too great and giving up the luxury of unwrapping the box is too much for some of us. The absolute best – and sometimes overlooked – tactic for finding cheap laptops online is to use good price comparison services. The better ones filter according to a price range and the really good ones have predetermined ranges like ‘cheap laptops’ and ‘gaming laptops’ and so on.

Research, filter, then price compare. That’s the trick to buying cheap laptops online without settling for a weak budget laptop.

Stylish looks and high-end features are the core parts of Advent Verona notebook. Needless to say, these two features have made the laptop desirable to both tech-savvy and fashion-conscious people. The sleek design of the stylish notebook ensures quick mobility. Furthermore, it is user friendly as well.

A host of technical specifications are available with Advent Verona. Intel Celeron M723 processor has been used in the notebook, which is also gives 1,200 MHz clock speed. The RAM and hard disk memory of Advent Verona are 3,072 MB and 250 GB. On the other hand, 13.3 Inch display of the notebook ensures clear visibility. No doubt it will be an added advantage at the time of work.

Advanced networking facility is another essential part of Advent Verona laptop. You will access wireless-LAN and Bluetooth networking system. More importantly, the notebook comes with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. Therefore, if you are willing to work on the advanced platform of Microsoft, this notebook won’t let you down.

In addition to all these, you will also get USB 2.0 connection ports. If you are interested in chatting with your friends, the 1.3 megapixel camera of the webcam will definitely please you. Even more the 2.0 hour battery life of the notebook is praiseworthy too, although it doesn’t compare to the 11 hour battery life of some rivals. Last but not the least the best part of Advent Verona is its weight which is only 1.3 kg. So carrying this notebook won’t be a big deal too.

The Advent Altro Elite is one of the best cheap laptops available in the market and it is in great demand. It is available in a stylish sleek and attractive design which gives it trendy look. This laptop is fitted with a webcam which enables you to video chat without connecting any external device. It is also installed with a card reader which enables you to connect all sorts of memory cards without any hassle. This device weighs around 1.6 kg and can be easily carried and stored.

The Advent Altro Elite is equipped with an Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor that offers a clock speed of 1400 MHz. Furthermore, the Advent Altro Elite is fitted with a 3072 MB of RAM which enhances the overall speed of the computer. The hard disk memory is around 120 GB which is more than enough to store all sorts of audio, video and various other files. It is also installed with Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium operating system which further enhances the overall performance. It is fixed with a USB 2.0 port which allows you to directly connect various other USB devices. This device is also equipped with an amazing rechargeable battery which offers a long battery back up.

This Advent laptop is also provided with a warranty which makes it even more reliable. The 13.3 inch display offers crystal clear pictures that will take your breath away. For best results you must carefully read the user manual which is provided with it.

Wireless laptops are recently launched and are in great demand because these laptops basically eliminate the major cost of locating up a wireless network. The whole set up saves time and is cost effective as well. Some of the other advantages are that it is very safe and secure to use and provides swift access as well. The best feature of a wireless laptop is that you can receive and send mails and other information from anyplace.

Many big companies all around the world are engaged in manufacturing a wide range of wireless laptops. Some of the biggest companies involve Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Sony and Apple. The Dell Studio 1555 is one of the best wireless laptops available in the market. The device is fitted with a 15.6 inch display that provides a resolution of 1366 x 768. It is also fitted with an ATI Mobility Radeon HD4570 graphics card that allows you to play all sorts of PC games. The laptop supports networking through LAN 10/100/1000 and Wireless-LAN as well. The device is fitted with a Lithium-Ion, 6000 mAh battery that offers long battery back up and a hassle free performance. The device weighs around 2.6 kg and can be easily carried and transported.

The Apple MacBook Pro (MB990B/A) is fitted with a 13.3 inch display. It is installed with 2048 MB of RAM and the hard disk memory is around 160 GB. The networking is done using Bluetooth, LAN 10/100/1000 and Wireless-LAN. Wireless-LAN enables you to access internet without connecting any cable.

Vaio is a sub-brand for many of the products of the market leader Sony’s computers. The brand was launched in 1996 with the PCV series of desktops, but now Sony Corp. has expanded the use of the Vaio label. You can now see the label on a number of notebooks, subnotebooks, desktop and media centers.

Sony Vaio laptops are considered to be the best quality laptops in the market owing to the superb features included in the laptops. Along with a package of attractive features, Sony Vaio laptops also carry a reasonable price tag. Some of the cheap Sony Vaio laptops available in the market include the Sony Vaio VGN-NW20EF/S, Sony Vaio VGN-FW48E/H, Sony Vaio VGN-FW51ZF/H and Sony Vaio VGN-NW11S/S models.

The Sony Vaio VGN-NW20EF/S has an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4300 that provides a clock speed of 2100 MHz with the Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system. It comes with a hard disk of 320 GB and a RAM of 3072 MB. Additional attractions of the laptop are a built-in webcam and a DVD writer. Another cheap Sony Vaio laptop is the Sony Vaio VGN-FW48E/H which is powered by the Intel Core2 Duo T6500 processor and a 16.4 inch display. Of course, as far as cheap laptops go, the VGN-FW48E/H is rather impressive with its ATI Mobility Radeon HD3470 graphics card. It also includes a Blu-ray ROM drive and Bluetooth, Wireless-LAN and Modem connectivity. The webcam integrated into the Sony Vaio laptop has a resolution of 0.3 Megapixel and the battery life provided by the laptop is 3 hours.

Tags for this article: sony vaio, sony vaio laptops, sony laptops

People from almost all walks of life want the mobility that laptops provide. But not everyone is able to have a laptop for oneself that easily, owing to the high price tag carried by them. To meet the needs of these sets of people, most of the leading laptop manufacturing companies, such as Acer, Hewlett Packard or Dell, are coming up with a plethora of cheap laptop computers.

However, choosing a cheap laptop computer can be a difficult task. The laptop you choose must be a balance between a reliable brand and the performance specifications needed by you. Fortunately, even some of the cheapest laptops nowadays have decent system specs, so you can still get a decent computer that fits your needs for an affordable price. The discussion ahead will pick out a few models, which truly stand out for their impressive specs and bargain cost.

The Dell Inspiron 1545 features a hard disk of 160 GB and a RAM of 1,024. The notebook has the 64 Bit Microsoft Windows Vista Business and a 15.6 inch display that is HD ready. The Wireless-LAN connectivity provides incredible speed while surfing the internet and chatting with people. It has an 8in1 card reader and an Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics card. The web cam integrated is of 1.3 megapixels and the overall weight is 2.64 kg.

The next in the line is the Samsung N510 (NP-N510-KA02UK) which is a netbook with 11.6 inch HD ready display. The 160 GB hard disk and 1024 MB RAM gives sufficient speed in running the Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition. The networking capability is provided by the Wireless-LAN, Bluetooth and LAN 10/100. It also comes with a 1.3 Megapixel webcam and a 3in1 card reader.

Many people are sceptical about picking a refurbished laptop and they have their reasons. But still there are many advantages of buying a refurbished laptop that outweigh the apparent weaknesses. And the most important of them is the price of the system. As a matter of fact if you know exactly what you want and know from where to buy then you can even get your favourite laptop at throwaway prices.

One of the biggest weaknesses of a refurbished laptop is the quality of what you get. This is an issue but not something that should actually stop you from buying extra cheap laptops. Most of the times when you’ll approach a seller you will be provided with warranty against any eventuality regarding the functioning of the various laptop components. Once this quality aspect is taken into account the refurbished laptops become an attractive option.

The best part of a refurbished laptop is definitely its price. You can get all the features you always wanted in your system and enjoy working on that elusive laptop you had your eyes on for a long time. And all this happens without a hole being burnt in your pocket.

There are unlimited refurbished laptop options that exist in the market that you can choose from. There are some laptops that if you can get a chance to get cheap should never be passed on. Something like Dell Inspiron 1545, Sony Vaio VGN-NS30E/S, Advent 6651 and Apple MacBook Pro (MB990B/A) are among the best laptops around. In case you can get them cheap as with refurbished laptops you should check for the warranty offered and go ahead and buy it.